and HE got the blanket.
I feel like Charlie Brown. "I got a rock!" :)
So I'm not complaining, because we did get 'gifted' - but I, personally, feel robbed.
Google had the right idea with their gift to me. Something nice, a bit unusual, that is useful and (most importantly) with their Logo emblazoned on it.
For those of you who run your own business, here is a Marketing 101 lesson. Google's blanket (and picture frame) gift does 3 important things.
1) It makes the client feel special (especially since google paid attention to packing details like blue tissue paper and lovely ribbon).
2) It makes other people jealous (e.g. How much do I have to spend to get a Google gift) which will encourage the non recipients to spend more to get a Google gift.
3) The clients will use the gifts. The picture frame will probably end up on a desk with a loved ones picture in it. My blanket ends up on my son's bed where I can tuck him lovingly under it. Etc. Etc. The point is that with these gifts people will look at it pretty regularly. It isn't gone in a week like food or cards. Every time these people look at this stuff, it will remind people that Google ads are out there and oh, yeah, I should put some more up now that I think about it.
One company I worked for tried their hardest to find a cool toy to give their clients every year. One year it was magic eight balls, another year it was the Round headed dolls that won that one design award. Anyway, we would have our logo put on them, wrap them up super special and deliver them. For our extra special clients, we also sent them on an all expense paid trip to Disney (with the provision that they hang out with our sales staff for a little while when they were there). Everyone wanted to be on our good spender list.
The lesson in all of this babbling? Next year, when you are thinking about what you would like to give to your clients, think like Google. Give them something lasting with your name on it. It costs no more and has a guaranteed return attached to it.
And I'm also going out to lunch with my account manager and his assistant tomorrow.
Not had anything from Google or Espotting or Looksmart, not even a Christmas card, so an e-card and a christmas card and a box of keywords puts Overture in pole position for the corporate gift stake.
The best gift that all PPC providers can give us though is good service, and although in the main it's all been good, there have been a few hair-pullers provided by everyone.
I wish adwords were even half as good as dealing with agencies as overture is (and I'm not just talking about presents)
Totally agree.
As good as Google Adwords is, we still effectively act as unpaid sales agents when we recommend them to clients.
To be fair the UK team we deal with are good at helping with issues and queries.
Because we "understand" the complexities of the Adwords program we can lead clients to good ROI without that painful learning curve, so as a result the advertisers get a good feeling, and Google get an ongoing and increasing revenue stream, we get satisfaction, but rely on the client to pay for the service we provide.
A lot of people have said that you can leave Google campaigns alone once you get them up and running properly, but we constantly tweak things to extract the maximum ROI and high CTR, and I am sure a lot of other agencies do the same.
So, recognition of agencies would be a high plus point for us, along with nice commissions....... and maybe jellybeans too.
Who thinks we should have a wishlist for Adwords improvements and tweaks for 2003? Anyone got a good one to start off (apart from jellybeans)
But hey, I wasn't counting on anything anyway and I'm having my best christmas ever thanks to Google and that's what really counts.
However, my wife have a complaint: It is NOT warm enough for where we live! You might be on the US West Cost but here in the northern parts on Europe (Denmark to be more precise) this blanket won't keep you warm this time a year.
Anyway, I like it - and so do my cat :) - so thanks